Aide Favored in Tuesday's Mardi Gras Stakes

Submitted by jimm on March 6, 2011 - 4:04pm

Graham Ross, Staff Writer

Adele Dilschneider’s Aide, a disappointing fifth in Fair Grounds’ $60,000 Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 22 as the first leg of the New Orleans oval’s three-race series that concludes with the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks March 26, finds an easier spot when she faces seven rivals in Tuesday’s 67th running of the $60,000 Mardi Gras Stakes, now restricted to 3-year-old fillies and run at about 7 1/2-furlongs over the Stall-Wilson turf course.

The Mardi Gras Stakes serves as the showcase event for the only Tuesday racing program of the 2010-2011 Fair Grounds season, with first post time slated for 12:40 p.m.

In the Silverbulletday, Aide was sent to the post as the strong second choice in the wagering but raced wide most of the way and never seriously threatened. Before that, however, Aide had finished fourth in Churchill’s Grade II Golden Rod Stakes last Nov. 27 behind the victorious Kathmanblu, owned by Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River Stables, who has since captured Fair Grounds Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 19.

Aide, who will be running on grass for the first time in her career and is trained by Al Stall Jr., has been installed as the 5-2 choice in the Mardi Gras morning line and gets the riding services of Fair Grounds defending jockey champion Shaun Bridgmohan.

Capable of providing strong competition for Aide is Estrorace and Rookie Thoroughbred Racing Stable’s Cryptocandiac, a daughter of Candy Ride out of a Citidancer mare who broke her maiden with a 1 3/4-length tally over the Stall-Wilson turf course here on Dec. 2. Trained by Mike Stidham, Cryptocandiac has been pegged as the 4-1 second choice in the Mardi Gras morning line and will have Fair Grounds’ current leading rider Rosie Napravnik in the stirrups.